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West Virginia American Water Launches Inclusion and Diversity Grant Program

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Oct. 1, 2021) – West Virginia American Water announced today that applications are now being accepted for the company’s new Inclusion and Diversity Grant Program. With the launch of this pilot program, West Virginia will be the first American Water state to dedicate funding to community organizations for the purpose of advancing inclusion and diversity related initiatives.

“Over the last several years, West Virginia American Water has championed many important inclusion and diversity efforts to ensure we are creating meaningful change on this topic across West Virginia,” said Robert Burton, president of West Virginia American Water. “This grant program demonstrates our continued commitment to investing in community organizations who are working to make West Virginia a more fair and friendly place to live, work and play.”   

West Virginia American Water’s Inclusion and Diversity Grant Program will provide financial assistance to organizations seeking to develop and implement programs, training or community-related projects that aim to promote and foster inclusion and diversity in the community. The maximum grant amount is $2,500.

“We recognize that all backgrounds, ethnicities, and experiences make our company better, and we’re constantly striving to build an inclusive and mutually respectful workplace,” Burton continued. “American Water’s’ culture embraces that we are all beautifully different, and our efforts with this new grant program, along with our recently released inaugural Diversity & Inclusion Report, are an extension of the value we place on being an inclusive company that is reflective of the diverse communities we serve.”

To qualify for a grant, the organization, project or event must:

  • Be located within West Virginia American Water's service area
  • Be a new, innovative community initiative or serve as significant expansion to an existing program
  • Promote inclusion and diversity in the community the organization serves
  • Be a 501(c)(3) non-profit, public school or government agency

West Virginia American Water’s inaugural Inclusion and Diversity Grant Program coincides with Global Diversity Awareness Month throughout October. This month of recognition serves to remind us of the positive impact a diverse workforce can have on our culture and society.

Additional information and the grant application can be found on the company’s Inclusion and Diversity Grant Program webpage. Applications must be emailed or postmarked by Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. Recipients will be notified by the end of November.

West Virginia American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water services to approximately 545,000 people. With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to 15 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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West Virginia American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water services to approximately 545,000 people. For more information, visit www.westvirginiaamwater.com and follow West Virginia American Water on Twitter and Facebook.